Starmer flies to Samoa to ‘answer tricky questions’ from Commonwealth allies
“Sir Keir Starmer will fly into a fresh debate over slavery reparations and Britain’s shrinking aid budget this week when he arrives on the Pacific island state of Samoa for the annual Commonwealth heads of government meeting. The UK prime minister is embarking on a gruelling 36-hour flight in order to represent the government at his first CHOGM gathering — before racing back for the Budget on October 30. He faces tricky questions about compensation for historic slavery after a leading contender to be Commonwealth secretary-general told the Financial Times that “the timing is right to begin a discussion on reparatory justice”. King Charles, accompanied by Queen Camilla, will also attend the summit for the first time as head of the Commonwealth…” – The Financial Times
- Five Labour MPs call on PM and Foreign Secretary to address issue of reparatory justice for slavery and colonialism – The Guardian
- Ex-Blair adviser rules himself out of race to be next UK ambassador to US – The I
Rayner sets up a ‘council housing revolution’…
“Angela Rayner is planning to double council house building after winning a boost in the budget to fund tens of thousands of extra homes. The deputy prime minister is expected to hail the first stage of a “council housing revolution” as she is handed almost £1 billion in next week’s budget. The money, to be released over the next 18 months, is seen as a down-payment on far bigger sums in next spring’s spending review as Rayner argues that council housing is vital to hitting Labour’s target of building 1.5 million homes. Her allies are also arguing that more council houses will help to avert a projected £9 billion rise in the benefit bill, while cutting the cost of temporary homeless accommodation that is pushing councils towards bankruptcy.” – The Times
- Councils ‘sitting on £8 billion meant for social housing and schools’ – The Times
- She is to decide whether a huge film studio complex can go ahead – The Times
…as she is given a permanent seat on the UK’s national security council
“Angela Rayner has been given a permanent seat on the UK government’s national security council as the rebooted Downing Street operation seeks to smooth over reports of tensions between Keir Starmer and his deputy. Allies of the deputy prime minister had shared concerns she was being sidelined when it emerged two weeks ago that she had been given only a temporary place on the committee that brings together ministers with military and intelligence chiefs. However, the Guardian understands she has now been made a permanent member of the NSC, which discusses and assesses the biggest threats facing Britain, as part of a concerted effort driven by the new No 10 chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, to bolster her position.” – The Guardian
- Move be an attempt to warm reports about her working relationship with Starmer amid fears she was being frozen out – The Daily Telegraph
Reeves ‘risks creating’ one of the most ‘anti-growth’ tax systems in the developed world
“Rachel Reeves’s Budget risks creating one of the most “anti-growth” tax systems in the developed world, according to a major new analysis. A joint study by the US Tax Foundation and the UK’s Centre for Policy Studies (CPS) shows that Britain would have one of the least competitive tax systems in the OECD if the Chancellor launches a capital gains tax raid, as is widely expected. The last government’s measures have already pushed the UK down to 30th place out of 38 OECD countries on competitiveness, according to the latest annual ranking produced by the Tax Foundation and published on Monday. The measures being briefed by Ms Reeves could push Britain down by another four to five places, according to the CPS’s analysis.” – The Daily Telegraph
- Up to 1.5 million pensioners may pay higher tax if Reeves freezes thresholds – The I
- She is warned her inheritance tax plans will backfire – The Daily Telegraph
- Streeting defends budget tax raid on six-figure earners – The Times
- Reeves must pull out all stops to give hospitality trade some help in the Budget – Editorial, The Sun
- Our fate is in the hands of a Chancellor who her credit card suspended – Ben Wilkinson, The Daily Telegraph
Karl Williams: The Chancellor’s budget decisions could worsen the UK’s economic growth prospects
“Labour now makes a big thing out of economic growth – and rightly so. It’s growth that boosts incomes, reduces the cost of living and creates a brighter future for our children. It’s also growth that generates the tax revenue we need to pay for better schools, hospitals and railways. But unfortunately for Labour, a key ingredient in economic growth is a competitive, pro-growth tax system – and there the news is very far from good. Every year the US-based Tax Foundation publishes an index of how well different countries’ tax systems compare – the International Tax Competitiveness Index. In the 2024 edition, published today, the UK ranks a dismal 30th out of 38 OECD countries… Yet in her first Budget, it looks like the Chancellor could make things even worse for Britain.” – Daily Express
Streeting says the public is to be asked for suggestions on how to fix the NHS
“Wes Streeting, UK health secretary, will on Monday launch a “national conversation” about the future of the National Health Service, which he said was in “an awful state”. Streeting has called on clinicians, experts and the general public to submit ideas for a new “10-year Health Plan” to rebuild the service to be “fit for the future”. They will be asked to give their suggestions via an online platform called change.NHS.uk which will go live at the start of next year. The announcement comes as the health department is set for a real-terms funding increase from the Treasury in the Budget and spending review on October 30 — equivalent to a cash injection of billions. The NHS is expected to get a more generous allocation while many other departments have complained…” – The Financial Times
- He unveils plans for ‘patient passports’ to hold all medical records – The Guardian
- Labour will not succeed in its ambitions to radically reform the NHS until it confronts sectional interests – Editorial, The Times
- Stop talking about the NHS and start doing – Editorial, The Daily Telegraph
- I love the NHS: it saved my life, but the operation to rescue it must be lead by the people and its staff – Wes Streeting, The Guardian
>Yesterday:
Labour ‘risks breaking manifesto pledge’ by Budget cut to farming fund
“The Government risks breaching its manifesto promises if it cuts a flagship farming fund at the Budget, critics have claimed. The Chancellor has been warned that slashing a post-Brexit scheme aimed at incentivising farmers to make nature-friendly choices will put her party’s commitments to British wildlife in jeopardy. It comes as more than 20 Tory MPs and peers have written to Rachel Reeves and Steve Reed…urgingthem to maintain the initiative after reports suggested its funding could be slashed by £100 million. The Environmental Land Management Scheme (Elms) pays farmers for environmental goods such as soil health, air quality and reduced water pollution. It is seen by some as a “significant win from Brexit” as it replaced the old system of EU-style subsidies.” – The Daily Telegraph
Haigh to launch HS2 review as costs spiral
“Louise Haigh, the UK transport secretary, has admitted that the cost of building the High Speed 2 rail line is still spiralling as she announced plans to get the project back under control through a new independent review. The headline price tag for creating the new rail line from London to Birmingham keeps on rising despite the scope of the controversial project having been cut in half last year to try to keep a lid on costs. Rishi Sunak, the former Tory prime minister, axed its entire northern stretch from Birmingham to Manchester. “It has long been clear that the costs of HS2 have been allowed to spiral out of control, but since becoming transport secretary I have seen up close the scale of failure in project delivery and it is dire,” Haigh said.” – The Financial Times
Inmates recalled to prison will be released early to free up space, under ministerial plans
“More space will be created in jails under plans to be announced this week which will make it easier and quicker for inmates recalled to jail to be re-released as figures show they account for one in seven of the 87,000 prisoners in England and Wales. The “recall prison population” — those who return to jail for breaching release conditions — has more than doubled in the past ten years. In June 12,199 of those in prison had been recalled for a breach of licence, a record high… The bureaucratic process for authorising the re-release of recalled prisoners will be among measures to be included in an overhaul of sentencing laws. Ministers want the changes ready for next summer. when prisons are again due to run out of space.” – The Times
Jenrick: Grooming gangs should face whole life sentences
“Robert Jenrick has said…the current maximum sentences for group-based child sexual exploitation and sexual assault should carry a minimum whole life term, which would mean convicted offenders would never be released from jail. Currently, the maximum sentence…under the 2003 Sexual Offences Act carries a minimum of 14 years. But grooming gang members can receive sentences as low as four years for offences such as raping girls as young as 13. Mr Jenrick also proposed automatic deportations for any non-British offender involved in grooming gangs, criminal penalties for officials who failed to report such offences and permanent tagging for any released from jail. He said victims of the grooming gangs in Rotherham should also be consulted about a monument…” – The Daily Telegraph
- The EU is waking up to the same immigration catastrophe as Britain – Nick Timothy, The Daily Telegraph
- Badenoch is not – and never could – the new Thatcher. But she is an optimist who lives Britain – Dominic Lawson, The Daily Mail
- Badenoch has shown she’s fearless. That’s exactly what our party needs – Iain Duncan Smith, The Daily Telegraph
- Authentic and formidable, Badenoch’s no-nonsense approach can win back voters – Lord Soames, The Daily Mail
>Today:
>Yesterday:
SNP claims there are 24 genders
“The SNP government has claimed there are 24 different genders. In official guidance, the devolved administration clarified a list of two dozen terms it said the gender identity of members of the public could be recorded by public bodies. They include “gender fluid”, meaning how a person identifies regularly changes and “genderqueer”, a term for those who believe they are something “other than male or female” or a “combination” of both. People may also be “pangender”, documents issued by the Scottish Government’s chief statistician states, meaning a person feels that “their identity encompasses all possible genders at once.” The advice was issued despite John Swinney…admitting only three months ago that he believes there are only two genders – male and female.” – The Daily Telegraph
- ‘Not a chance in hell’ that Sturgeon will be invited to Salmond’s funeral – The Daily Mail
News in Brief:
- What is the point of the Commonwealth? – Jawad Iqbal, The Spectator
- Why shouldn’t we discriminate against people’s beliefs? – Tom Harwood, The Critic
- Bloated Britain needs a sound public health strategy – Joseph Dinnage, CapX
- What makes a good chief of staff? – Harry Quilter-Pinner, The New Statesman
- What will Reeves do in the Budget? – Neil O’Brien, Neil’s Substack
